Getting Your Tech On In 2025

Weekly strategies for finding the unexpected upsides in midlife chaos 🥴

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

1. Your no-fear guide to getting started with AI (even if you've been avoiding it)

2. The only roast chicken recipe you'll ever need

3. Murder mysteries featuring brilliant women sleuths

4. Nancy Drew nostalgia

What Even Is AI and How Do I Use It?

Last night we had guests for dinner and the subject of ChatGPT came up. The Gen Z’ers immediately started sharing how they were using it for school. The guest mom, however, had never used it and asked how it could even be useful for her.

This makes sense! Why, if you’ve successfully made it to midlife without using AI, would you possibly need it now? Well, you don’t really, but part of staying current is diving into some of these new technologies.

So, without further ado, your AI FAQ:

The Basics

How is ChatGPT different from Google?
Google would show you existing recipes from websites like Food Network or AllRecipes, pulling up links to actual recipes that people have published online. ChatGPT would create a new recipe for you on the spot, drawing from its understanding of how to cook chicken, typical ingredients, and cooking methods.

How is ChatGPT different from Alexa or Siri?
Think of Alexa and Siri as very literal-minded assistants who need specific commands: "Set a timer for 30 minutes" or "Play Bruce Springsteen." ChatGPT is more like having a conversation with someone who can brainstorm ideas with you, help you work through problems, or explain complex topics in simpler terms. You can say "I'm trying to explain WhatsApp video chat to my dad" and it will understand the challenge and offer suggestions.

Real-World Applications

How can AI help me at work without replacing me?

1. "Make this email sound more professional" Rather than agonizing over every word, write your email normally and then ask: "Can you help me make this email more professional while keeping the main message? Here's what I wrote: 'Hey John - Got your message about the budget thing. Not sure I agree with all the numbers but let's talk.'"

2. "Help me prepare for this presentation" When you're dreading that upcoming talk, try: "I need to give a 15-minute presentation about our Q4 results. Can you:

   • Create an outline with 3 key takeaways

   • Write transition sentences between main points

   • List potential questions I might get"

3. "Help me organize this data" Instead of staring at a messy spreadsheet wondering where to start, try: "I need to track monthly expenses for 5 departments and show which ones are over budget. Can you walk me through setting this up step by step?"

I’m a Solo Practitioner — What About Me?
Think of AI as your administrative assistant plus brainstorming buddy. For example:

"I need to:

• Create session templates that track progress over time

• Generate fresh activity ideas for different client needs

• Draft warm but professional client communications

• Create customizable handouts and worksheets"

How Do I Make Sure It’s My Work?
The key to using AI well is finding the right balance between its capabilities and your expertise. I use the 10/80/10 Rule: Think of AI like having a really eager assistant who needs both direction and supervision. Here's how to use it effectively:

First 10%: Your Input

• Give clear instructions about what you want

• Provide context and any specific requirements

• Share your preferred style/tone

Middle 80%: AI's Work

• Generates first drafts and frameworks

• Organizes information and suggests options

• Handles the repetitive heavy lifting

Final 10%: Your Expert Touch

• Review and fact-check

• Add your personal experience

• Make sure it sounds like you and meets your standards

Remember: AI is like a sous chef — it can do a lot of prep work, but you're still the head chef who makes sure that roast chicken tastes right and is plated beautifully.

The Best, Easiest Roast Chicken Recipe

Just to save you time, this is actually the only roast chicken recipe you need.

And, if you’re like me, and you grew up on commercials of famine in Africa and hate wasting food, you can use the carcass the next day to make homemade chicken soup. Just throw it in a pot with whatever veggies you have in the fridge (celery, carrots, onions, garlic, any fresh herbs), add water, and simmer for 3 hours.

What I’m Reading/Watching

I finished the second in the Lane Winslow mystery series this week. I’m partial to mystery series that feature women detectives (either formal or informal). In this series, the unofficial detective is former British spy Lane Winslow, who’s come to a peaceful hamlet in Canada for R&R after WWII. Then the bodies start dropping…

Another mystery series by a woman featuring a woman ‘detective’ that I adore is the Ruth Galloway series, with Ruth a British archaeologist who keeps stumbling on a more recent set of bones.

Those Brits — they really do mystery well!

A Throwback Moment

If you're a mystery fan, perhaps it was because you spent some formative years with this series?

I read every single Nancy Drew book, over and over 😍 And as a redhead, I felt especially bonded to our ‘titian-haired sleuth’ who could solve any mystery, fix a car engine, and still make it home for dinner without getting busted for breaking literally every rule to solve the case.

That’s it for this week! If this was fun, please hit the subscribe button! I’ll be back next week with a social media primer.

- Kara, Working Girl 2.0